Brave seven year old enlisted as honorary Garda

Tuam has a new Garda . . . and this latest member of the force is just seven years old. Sofia Jay Kilkelly was this week made an honorary member, receiving her Garda cap and top from her new ‘colleagues’ in Tuam, accompanied by her proud parents Brian and Sylvia.

The brave Palace Fields girl was nominated by locals to be a member of Little Blue Heroes, who support children with complex and life-threatening diseases.

Back in 2014, Sofia Jay born with the same heart condition that claimed the life of her older sister Zoe four years earlier. But after multiple surgeries through her short life, she is now thriving.

Sofia Jay spent the first four months of her life in the cardiac unit of Crumlin Children’s Hospital having been born with Heterotaxy Syndrome, a condition that places the major internal organs in the wrong position.

Sofia Jay was also born without a spleen and diagnosed with Hypoplastic Right Heard Syndrome, which means the left side of her heart is doing the work of both chambers because the right side isn’t fully formed.

Shortly after she was born, locals held a major fundraising drive to assist with the essential care that Sofia Jay received as well as contributing towards a vital piece of equipment for the heart centre at Crumlin Hospital.

And there was great joy this week when, after being nominated by local residents, she became a member of the Little Blue Heroes.

Read the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now – or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie